Posted by Lets Fix Us
a resident of The Crossings
on Sep 8, 2012 at 7:04 am

Again? My fellow drivers, please pay attention, slow down and use the brake pedal as the PRIMARY response, not the last resort.
True accidents will always happen, but as the only people in the street equation using a vehicle that regularly kills others, even at slow speeds, it is up to us to act prudently. You know how attentive you become in school zones with kids present? That should be how attentive and courteous you should be at ALL times. If you're saying to yourself "Hmm,I'm not THAT attentive all the time" then you are part of the problem on today's roads, no matter how well meaning you are.
Look deeply in the mirror and start to change for the better. It WILL save lives.

Posted by rem
a resident of another community
on Sep 8, 2012 at 7:30 amrem is a registered user.

When I see the phrase "near the intersection" it ready upsets me that people can NOT go to the "Crosswalk". I have had near misses in that area because people will try to cross in the middle of street. Running across four/five lanes is taking your life in your own hands.

I agree with "Let's Fix Us" to keep looking BUT when a person "runs" or "walk out" from behind another car or tree it is very hard to stop a 4400 pound van. Luckier I have missed those that have…. The Air Force taught me good driving skill  LOOK  Look and LOOK and do not trust people or cars..

Posted by crosswalk
a resident of Old Mountain View
on Sep 8, 2012 at 11:05 am

The article does not say the victim was jaywalking. The crosswalk is "near the intersection". And they pedestrian may have been in the crosswalk when they were hit, but got knocked out of the crosswalk by the force of the impact.

Most cars hitting pedestrians are not when a pedestrian jumps off a curb. Usually, the pedestrian is more than half way across the street in the crosswalk. Car drivers in the right lane tend to look for pedestrians in crosswalks near the sidewalk, but car drivers often do check the crosswalks when they are in the middle lanes or when turning. Of course, these cars may have been a block away when the pedestrian first entered the street and they approach the crosswalk at such a high speed that the pedestrian cannot dodge them.

Posted by Barbara Doheny
a resident of another community
on Sep 8, 2012 at 10:52 pm

When I heard a woman was killed crossing at Mathilda and El Camino, my heart turned over. I walk across that crosswalk almost daily. The corner is notorious for red light runners, is an exceptionally long light and also hosts a bus stop for the 22 line. I've nearly been hit myself in that crosswalk more than once. I've often wondered if the only way to make the crossing safe there is for the city to simply build an underpass.

Divers please be aware that people DO jaywalk; right or wrong, it happens. Unless it does not matter to you, you can avoid killing people with your car by being ever vigilant behind the wheel and expecting the unexpected. Whenever drivers do not do this, we are at risk.
Kids run into the streets too and I know most take special care when kids are present. We as drivers must maintain that level or attentiveness at all times.
Jaywalking laws do not relieve any driver of their responsibility to always be attentive. As the operators of machines that regularly kill, you must always be alert and focused on the safety of others, and in turn you will be keeping yourself safer as well.
Not all accidents will be prevented through this action, but many will.